---
title: How to use the log?
description: "The log shows you, in chronological order, who did what and when in your ChurchTools. This allows you, for example, to track who made a change and when, and to identify errors if you notice any unusual behavior. ## Overview…"
url: "https://staging.churchtools.academy/en/help/administration/other-administration/how-to-use-the-log/"
updated: "2026-07-20"
category: Other
---

# How to use the log?

The log shows you, in chronological order, who did what and when in your ChurchTools. This allows you, for example, to track who made a change and when, and to identify errors if you notice any unusual behavior.

## Overview of the Logs

You can call up the *log* (2) via the *Manage menu*(1).

In the main area of the window, all *log entries* (3) are listed chronologically from new to old. You can use the *search* function (4) to quickly find specific entries that you would like to take a closer look at.

For all entries, you will be shown which *level* (5) they correspond to, *when* (6) and in which area*(domain*) (7) of your ChurchTool they were logged. Under *Actor* (8) you will find the actor's account and under *Log message* (9) you will find what exactly was done.

[![Screenshot Log Log entries](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Log_Log-entries.png)](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Log_Log-entries.png)

## Filter logs

On the left-hand side, you will find various filter options to narrow down the entries in addition to searching by *level*, *user* and *time period*. Entries with *level 1* record actual errors that occurred during processes. If you have any questions about one of these entries, please contact our [support](https://contact.church.tools/contact) team. *Level 2 and 3* entries record notes and information that are recorded, for example, when changes are made or data is called up.

[![Screenshot Logs Filter Logs](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Logs_Filter-Logs.png)](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Logs_Filter-Logs.png)

## View Login Statistics

In addition to the *logs*, you can also access the *Statistics* tab. Here, you'll see the *most frequent* and *most recent accesses to*your ChurchTools.

[![Screenshot Logs Statistics](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Logs_Statistics.png)](https://staging.churchtools.academy/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Logs_Statistics.png)

## Deleting Log Entries

Here, we distinguish between **system logs that should be deleted quickly** and **all other log entries**.

**System logs that can be deleted quickly** are deleted **after 3 months**:

- Login Logs
- Cron Logs
- Email Logs
- Rate Limit Messages
- Consolidation Logs
- JS error
- Certain calendar entries that start with “Anonymous added to the calendar…”

**All other log entries** in the normal log table are deleted as soon as they are more than **3 years** old. The following protected entries are not affected by the standard automatic cleanup:

- Person
- Transaction
- Account
- Cost Center
- Tax Rate

There are two **special cases:** archiving a person and job logs.

- If the corresponding admin option is enabled, **a user's log entries are deleted when that user is archived**.
- **Job log entries** are removed from another log table after just **1 hour**.

## Read more

- [Execute scheduled tasks (cron job)](https://staging.churchtools.academy/en/help/administration/other-administration/execute-scheduled-tasks-cron-job/)
- [Simulate users for troubleshooting and rights management](https://staging.churchtools.academy/en/help/administration/simulate-user/21-simulate-persons-for-troubleshooting-and-permissions-management/)